New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-17
AUG USTIN DALY'S FESTIVAL

II was delightful company that Mr.. DAILY assem-
BLEED around his hosptable board last Wednesday az
midnight TO celebrate by a social festival the one
hundrcdth performance OF The Tanning OF the Shrew
at his theatre but the kindly motive that prompted
HIM 1--WE this supper and the taste and berality with
which he showered his kindness upon his friends were
charming STILL and will be remembered Dy those
who present long after the w.t. humor eioquence
and cordiaty of the night have been fortotten' A
theatrical manager Is person who gets little credit
Tor disiutcrested motives and generous impulses
This was essentially q private festival, yet 1t ga
such OF noble feeling and high intellectual pur
pose that il may well DO made the theme OF at least
passing word OF sympathetic commrmoraton.
Those readers who remember what queer pnght
the local stage was ia about the beginning OF the
present year will doubtless recall the pleasure with
which was their fortune suddenly to and to well
como Mr.. Dslys brilliant production OF The Tanning
OF tho shrcw" The clock had well nigh run down
when this sagacious and liberal manager thus woand
II up and set il going in yigor and vivacity
Mr. Days intention TO present this old comedy had
long been entertained, AMI his preparation tor the
enterprise had been made with thoughtful ana patent
care.
The long record OF Shakespearian REVEALS in New
York presents no example OF more thorough scholar
ship more OPuent and appropriate scenic treatment.
more wisdom In the distribution OF characters, than
we're combined in this fecitous and altogei her de.
lghtul representation. I" The Tanning OF the Shrew
had before been a,ed IN this country as SHAKES
peare wrote it, and it came upon this community very
much as IT it had been a new play IRON the most
potential hand that ever wrote. In this case there
thou leaving the question OF me rit to the
decision OF popular caprice thoroughly good com
edy superby dressed and mounted and so DRILL
anty acted that the public had no alternative except
to admire accept and sustain it, In giving his feast OF
victory, after hundred successful performances. MI
DAILY made IL clear to every OF his friends who saw
him that night that be had acted from honest and
noble pride and from heartfelt Joy IN the manly con-
seriousness of worthy labor crowned with rich pros
pery 1t was the desire to express not alone exuita-
ton but gratitude. and 10 share his reloSing WIN
tho acted drama, that led him to call together circle
of friends and to feast them throughout
tho golden hours of that delicious night
The scene presented was one OF singular beauty
q eat round table, and canoped in royal pavilion,
occupied the greater part OF the stage and on TINS
solid circle OF red white and yellow roses Around it
were ranged about fifty persons the principal Ladies'
OF Mr.. Days company, and few other far and
gracious faces, dversityns the masculine array ana
General Sherman, with beauty on either siae
OF him. looked happy and made everybody happy
who looked upon him The quaint ana klhuy visas s
shrewdy forth the OF roses. Near TO Gen.
eral Sherman was discerned the manly figure ana
handsome honest ace OF Wilson Barrett Opposite to
Twain the silver hair and fine arstocratic countenanoe
of Lester Wallack made charming picture Next to
the comedian sat Rose Eytinge The bar was repte-
scholarship by the Shakespearisn commentator,
6Oward Furness, whom every student OF Shakespeare
admires and who is known only to be loved Journal
ism by Clark Davis, John Foord, Henry A. Dithmar,
W. f. G. ShaDks and Lawrence Hutton poetry by
Edgar Fawcett; art by Elibu vedder and sloluence
and good -iello ship by General Horace Porter Prob
sby q moro harmonious company has never been
assembled q dramatic OCCASION Feeling seems 10
run high with regard to theatrical affairs, and seldom
happens that nifty people can DO got together IN
theatre without including or two foes in the list
Mr. DAILY was as happy in bis friends as In the htness
and beauty his festival At intervals as the night
aims of music made by unseen players were
waited through the house. There was some speaking,
but oil OF il was informal.
Mr.. DAILY said o few simple, heartielt WORDS, ana
then committed the exercises to the care OF General
Sherman--whO always speaks well and VINO was
fecitous In the tulhlment OF his delicate duty wilson
Barrett after playtully chatting the Commander on
the sensitive point of love and vaOr" paid cordial
tribute to Mr. Day's management OF comedy theatre,
and expressed the desire u see in tragedy
theatre of commensurate excellence Mark T~ ain in
his characteristic style, described his adventures while
endeavoring TO keep business appointment with Mr.
Daly inside the back door OF his theatre. Lester
WalIack with much dignity and feeling, avouched his
friendship tor Mr.. DAILY, and his pleasure in the sue
cess of the younger manager. General Porter, IN q
charming vein Of anecdote froic and thought
ackno lodged the obligation OF intellectual men 10
tho dramatic art and spoke the most graceful comPn
ment OF the night-sayng that Mrs. Gilbert had 70
exert all her and abilities to persuade us that she
was playing old women. Judge 0Gorman said few
words in the easy, impressive, ympatheuc way tnae
of comic character and brief addresses were made by
Bronson Howard, John Drew, James Lewis aud
others. A pic ssing incident OF the night was the
modest and sweet response made by Miss Ada kehan
1t is always difficult to catch and put into pint the
fragance after dinner speech Perhaps 1t Is the man
Many ripple OF merriment ran round Mr.. Days
table, and near to James Lewis and William Gilbert
there was incessant sport The c0mpeny did not sep
arate until daylight